Method and structure for enqueuing data packets for processing

ABSTRACT

A method and structure is provided for buffering data packets having a header and a remainder in a network processor system. The network processor system has a processor on a chip and at least one buffer on the chip. Each buffer on the chip is configured to buffer the header of the packets in a preselected order before execution in the processor, and the remainder of the packet is stored in an external buffer apart from the chip. The method comprises utilizing the header information to identify the location and extent of the remainder of the packet. The entire selected packet is stored in the external buffer when the buffer of the stored header of the given packet is full, and moving only the header of a selected packet stored in the external buffer to the buffer on the chip when the buffer on the chip has space therefor.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to an improved structure and method for enqueuing data packets of information for processing prior to being transmitted and, more particularly, to a method and structure for providing separate queues for storing certain information regarding different packets of information to increase the speed of response for dequeuing enqueued packets of information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

According to conventional prior art methods and structures when data packets are to be processed for transmission, if there is encountered a flow of data packets which is greater than the processor can handle, these data packets have been stored off the chip in DRAM memory devices in one or more queues. The DRAM storage devices techniques, while providing good storage space, nevertheless are rather slow, thus increasing latency, and during peak periods may not work effectively. Therefore, a more rapid access to enqueued data packets is desired to decrease latency and increase processing capabilities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method and structure for buffering data packets is provided, each having a header portion and a remainder portion in a network processor system. The network processor system has a processor on a chip and at least one buffer on said chip. Each buffer on the chip is configured to buffer the header portion of the data packets in a preselected order prior to execution in the processor, and the remainder portion of the data packet is stored in an external buffer apart from the chip. The method comprises utilizing the information in the header portion to identify at least the location and extent of the remainder portion of the data packet. The entire data packet of a selected data packet is stored in the external buffer when the buffer on the stored header of the given data packet is full, and moving only the header of a selected entire data packet stored in the external buffer to the buffer on the chip when the buffer on the chip has space therefor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a chip having a processor and an on-chip buffer according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a chip having a processor and an on-chip buffer, and an off-chip buffer according to this invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a frame having various components;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the flow of data to the chip and buffers; and

FIG. 5 is a flow chart for checking the status of the off-chip buffer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring now to the drawings and, for the present, to FIG. 1, an integrated circuit chip 10 is shown diagrammatically which has formed thereon a processor 12. The chip 10 is contained in a network processor to process packets of data to be transmitted to some other location. Such processors are well known in the art and need not be described further herein. The chip 10 also has formed thereon several buffers 14 a-14 e. There are multiple buffers in the preferred embodiment to accommodate packets of information of different priority, but it is to be understood that but a single buffer could be used if priority is not required. The buffers 14 a-14 e are fast response buffers, such as SRAMs which are fast acting, but are relatively large in size (e.g. as compared to DRAMs). The buffers 14 a-14 e are relatively limited in content and for the purpose of storing only the headers of data packets, as will be described presently.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a second set of buffers 16 a-16 e is shown. These buffers 16 a-16 e are off-chip buffers, preferably DRAMs, and, thus, smaller in size than the SRAM buffers 14 a-14 e, and, therefore, have greater storage capacity than the SRAM buffers 14 a-14 e. These buffers 16 a-16 e correspond to buffers 14 a-14 e and are arranged and configured to store the entire packet of data information, or a major portion of the packets of information, as will be described presently.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the structure of a data packet 22 is shown somewhat diagrammatically. Each packet 22 contains a data section 24 which contains the data to be processed and transmitted, and a control block or control section 26, which contains the control information relating to the data being processed. For example, the control block 26 can, and typically does, contain information, such as next packet pointer (memory address) in the queue, packet byte count, and external memory starting address of packet section 24 information. This information is used in the storage and processing of the packet 22. It should be noted that the length of the packet 22 can and normally does extend over multiple buffers and, thus, the size and location of the beginning and end of the packet 22 is important.

The packet 22 according to this invention includes a header section 29 which is a significant aspect of this invention. The header section 29 is provided so that it may be severed and stored in an on-chip buffer 14 a-14 e, as will be described presently. The header section 29 includes information about the packet 22 which will allow the header section 29 to define uniquely where the remainder of the packet 22 may be stored. Some of this information may have to be supplied after the packet is received at the processor 12 if the remainder of the packet, i.e. sections 24 and 26, are to be stored in an off-chip buffer 16 a-16 e.

The invention operates in the following manner. A data packet 22 is received at the I/C chip 10 having the processor 12 thereon which will process and forward the data in a received data packet 22. The processor 12 has a program that looks to the priority of the data packet 22, normally contained in the control block 24, and checks if the on-chip buffer 14 a-14 e for that priority has space therein. If space is available in the appropriate on-chip buffer 14 a-14 e, then the processor severs the header section 29 from the rest of the data packet 22, stores the header section 29 in the determined appropriate on-chip buffer 14 a-14 e, stores the remainder of the data packet 22, i.e. the control block section 24 and the data section 26, in the corresponding off-chip buffer 16 a-16 e, and writes any necessary data in the header 29 to fully locate this remainder section in the off-chip buffer 16 a-16 e. When the designated header reaches the point in the queue that it is next to be processed, the remainder of the data packet 22 is retrieved from the off-chip buffer 16 a-16 e and delivered to the processor 12. If more than one data packet 22 is received while the processor is busy, the headers 29 are severed and stored in the appropriate on-chip buffer 14 a-14 e, and the remainder is stored on the appropriate corresponding off-chip buffer 16 a-16 e, and the headers are read from the buffers 14 a-4 e in their appropriate order. The fact that the on-chip buffers 14 a-14 e are much faster than the chip buffers 16 a-16 e significantly reduces the latency time for addressing the buffers and starting the processing of the next in line packet 22.

If the traffic is unusually heavy at a given time, and the appropriate on-chip buffer 14 a-14 e is full, then the entire packet, including the header 29, is written to the appropriate off-chip buffer 16 a-16 e and such is recorded in the control block 24. A background task as shown in FIG. 5 in the network processor system, which is transparent to the computer program being executed, is continuously checking the status of the on-chip buffers 16 a-16 e. As soon as there is space in the appropriate on-chip buffer 14 a-14 e, the header portion 29 of the packet 22 is severed from the remainder of the packet 22 and moved into the appropriate on-chip buffer 14 a-14 e. Thus, there is a continuous reading from the fast on-chip buffers 14 a-14 e to locate and retrieve the data packets 22 which have been buffered.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described herein, variations in the design may be made, and such variations may be apparent to those skilled in the art of computer system design, as well as to those skilled in other arts. The components and other parameters above are by no means the only ones suitable for methods and systems according to the present invention, and substitutes will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. The scope of the invention, therefore, is only to be limited by the following claims. 

1. A method for buffering data packets, each having a header portion and a remainder portion in a network processor system, which network processor system has a processor on a chip and at least one buffer on said chip, and wherein each said buffer on said chip is configured to buffer said header portion of said data packets in a preselected order prior to execution in said processor, and wherein said remainder portion of said data packet is stored in an external buffer apart from said chip, said method comprising the steps of: utilizing the information in said header portion to identify at least the location and extent of said remainder portion of said data packet, storing the entire data packet of a selected data packet in said external buffer when the buffer on the chip configured to store said header of said given data packet is full, and moving only said header of a selected entire data packet stored in said external buffer to said buffer on said chip when said buffer on said chip has space therefor.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said memory on the chip is faster than said external memory.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said memory on said chip is SRAM, and said external memory is DRAM.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein at least some of the information contained in said header is supplied by said processor.
 5. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein the information from the packet header in the off-chip memory is continuously read therefrom.
 6. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein the continuous read packet header from external memory to on-chip memory is performed by background process and is transparent to the computer program executed in the processor.
 7. A computer program contained on media for buffering data packets, each having a header portion and a remainder portion in a network processor system, which network processor system has a processor on a chip and at least one buffer on said chip, and wherein each said buffer on said chip is configured to buffer said header portion of said data packets in a preselected order prior to execution in said processor, and wherein said remainder portion of said data packet is stored in an external buffer apart from said chip, said program comprising the steps of: utilizing the information in said header portion to identify at least the location and extent of said remainder portion of said data packet, storing the entire data packet of a selected data packet in said external buffer when the buffer on the chip configured to store said header of said given data packet is full, and moving only said header of a selected entire data packet stored in said external buffer to said buffer on said chip when said buffer on said chip has space therefor.
 8. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said memory on the chip is faster than said external memory.
 9. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said memory on said chip is SRAM, and said external memory is DRAM.
 10. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein at least some of the information contained in said header is supplied by said processor.
 11. The invention as claimed in claim 7 wherein the information from the packet header in the off-chip memory is continuously read therefrom.
 12. The invention as defined in claim 11 wherein the continuous read packet header from external memory to on-chip memory is performed by background process and is transparent to the computer program executed in the processor.
 13. A structure for buffering data packets, each having a header portion and a remainder portion in a network processor system, which network processor system has a processor on a chip and at least one buffer on said chip, comprising each said buffer on said chip being configured to buffer said header portion of said data packets in a preselected order prior to execution in said processor, said remainder portion of said data packet being stored in an external buffer apart from said chip, including a program for: utilizing the information in said header portion to identify at least the location and extent of said remainder portion of said data packet, storing the entire data packet of a selected data packet in said external buffer when the buffer on the chip configured to store said header of said given data packet is full, and moving only said header of a selected entire data packet stored in said external buffer to said buffer on said chip when said buffer on said chip has space therefor.
 14. The invention as defined in claim 13 wherein said memory on the chip is faster than said external memory.
 15. The invention as defined in claim 14 wherein said memory on said chip is SRAM, and said external memory is DRAM.
 16. The invention as defined in claim 13 wherein at least some of the information contained in said header is supplied by said processor.
 17. The invention as claimed in claim 13 wherein the information from the packet header in the off-chip memory is continuously read therefrom.
 18. The invention as defined in claim 17 wherein the continuous read packet header from external memory to on-chip memory is performed by background process and is transparent to the computer program executed in the processor. 